Arizona State's fall from a second-place finish in the Pac-12 South to a last-place ranking in the 2018 media poll might be the fastest drop any football program ever experienced, without playing a game.
Welcome to the Herm Edwards Experiment. ASU athletic director Ray Anderson brought his friend back to the sideline as the Sun Devils' coach after a long tenure as an ESPN studio analyst, turning the program into a subject of considerable curiosity. Will this work?
Many observers have their doubts. Edwards even has made some “hot seat” lists this summer; that's unheard of, for a first-year coach. Asked during the Pac-12 Media Day if he is amused by some of the reactions to his hiring, Edwards claimed to be unaware of them. Yet his responses to other questions confirmed that he knows what people are saying.
To those pointing out he has been away from coaching for 10 years, he said, “Mentally, you’re never out of football. … You’re still learning football, watching football.”
The Sun Devils would have to perform much worse than last year to finish last in the South, having gone 6-3 in conference play (7-6 overall) in a showing that resulted in the firing of coach Todd Graham. ASU has decent personnel. Thanks mostly to N’Keal Harry, Athlon Sports ranks the Sun Devils' receivers/tight ends No. 1 in the conference. ASU’s quarterback (Manny Wilkins) and defensive line are No. 5. Only the secondary (No. 11) has a ranking that fits with the last-place forecast.
ASU’s nonconference schedule includes home games vs. Texas-San Antonio and Michigan State and a trip to San Diego State, where Edwards played in the 1970s. Utah will visit Sun Devil Stadium on Nov. 3, after having lost 30-10 to ASU last October.
The Sun Devils will succeed if:
Wilkins plays consistently as a senior and a defense with only three returning starters comes together quickly.
ASU should be productive offensively with Harry and Kyle Williams catching passes. The 6-foot-4 Harry is one of the conference's best athletes. Running back Eno Benjamin, once a Utah recruiting target, will step into a big role at running back.
The Sun Devils won’t succeed if:
They get blasted by Michigan State at home, lose to San Diego State on the road and then have to visit a Washington team that remembers being upset last season. Starting 1-3 would immediately raise questions about Edwards, fairly or not.
ASU’s defense has to give up fewer big plays, or finishing last in the South becomes a genuine possibility. The Sun Devils ranked No. 111 last season by 6.3 yards per play.
